# 2024 Kentucky Wildcats baseball team

The 2024 Kentucky Wildcats baseball team represented the University of Kentucky in the 2024 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Wildcats play their home games at Kentucky Proud Park.

## Previous season

The Wildcats finished 40–21, 16–13 in the SEC to finish fifth in the SEC East division. They lost to Alabama in the SEC tournament. The Wildcats then competed in the NCAA tournament, winning the Lexington Regional. They would lose to eventual champion LSU in the Baton Rouge Super Regional.

## Schedule and results

2024 Kentucky Wildcats baseball game log :
Regular season :
February (7–1) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SEC record |
| February 16 | at USC Upstate | Harley Park Spartanburg, SC | W 11–7 | Smith (1–0) | Sullivan (0–1) | None | SECN+ | 437 | 1–0 | – |
| February 17 | at USC Upstate | Harley Park | W 3–0 | Niman (1–0) | Curtis (0–1) | Hummel (1) | SECN+ | 245 | 2–0 | – |
| February 18 | at USC Upstate | Harley Park | W 9–3 | Moore (1–0) | Proger (0–1) | None | SECN+ | 270 | 3–0 | – |
| February 20 | Morehead State | Kentucky Proud Park | W 9–5 | Nove (1–0) | Bettio (0–1) | None | SECN+ | 2,844 | 4–0 | – |
| Karbach Round Rock Classic ||||||||||||
| February 23 | vs. Washington State | Dell Diamond Round Rock, TX | L 4–6 | Taylor (2–0) | Smith (1–1) | Grillo (1) | D1Baseball | | 4–1 | – |
| February 24 | vs. Texas State | Dell Diamond | W 11–5 | Niman (2–0) | Stroud (1–1) | None | D1Baseball | 4,105 | 5–1 | – |
| February 25 | vs. Kansas | Dell Diamond | W 8–5 | Byers (1–0) | Steitz (1–1) | None | D1Baseball | | 6–1 | – |
| February 27 | Western Kentucky | Kentucky Proud Park | W 5–0 | O'Brien (1–0) | Bosecker (0–1) | None | SECN+ | 2,226 | 7–1 | – |
March (17–3) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SEC record |
| March 1 | Lipscomb | | Kentucky Proud Park | W 7–4 | Pooser (1–0) | Brewer (0–2) | Nove (1) | SECN+ | 1,774 | 8–1 | – |
| March 2 | Lipscomb | | Kentucky Proud Park | W 16–1$^7$ | Niman (3–0) | Witzke (0–1) | None | SECN+ | 2,207 | 9–1 | – |
| March 3 | Lipscomb | | Kentucky Proud Park | W 9–1 | Moore (2–0) | Dunkleberger (1–2) | None | SECN+ | 2,803 | 10–1 | – |
| March 5 | Eastern Kentucky | | Kentucky Proud Park | W 10–0$^7$ | Lafferty (1–0) | Hall (0–3) | None | SECN+ | 1,906 | 11–1 | – |
| March 6 | at Eastern Kentucky | | Turkey Hughes Field Richmond, KY | W 5–2 | Hummel (1–0) | Blanton (0–2) | Pooser (1) | ESPN+ | 1,021 | 12–1 | – |
| March 8 | Kennesaw State | | Kentucky Proud Park | L 1–12$^8$ | Osbolt (2–0) | Smith (1–2) | None | SECN+ | 1,922 | 12–2 | – |
| March 9 | Kennesaw State | | Kentucky Proud Park | L 2–10 | Aita (1–0) | Niman (3–1) | None | SECN+ | 1,980 | 12–3 | – |
| March 10 | Kennesaw State | | Kentucky Proud Park | W 5–2 | Moore (3–0) | Pinson (0–4) | Pooser (2) | SECN+ | 2,044 | 13–3 | – |
| March 12 | Murray State | | Kentucky Proud Park | W 10–6 | Cleaver (1–0) | Roulette (2–1) | None | SECN+ | 2,040 | 14–3 | – |
| March 15 | Georgia | | Kentucky Proud Park | W 16–10 | Byers (2–0) | Smith (1–1) | None | SECN+ | 2,040 | 15–3 | 1–0 |
| March 16 | Georgia | | Kentucky Proud Park | W 9–3 | Niman (4–1) | Finley (2–1) | Nove (2) | SECN+ | 2,893 | 16–3 | 2–0 |
| March 17 | Georgia | | Kentucky Proud Park | W 12–2$^7$ | Moore (4–0) | Mracna (2–1) | None | SECN+ | 2,899 | 17–3 | 3–0 |
| March 19 | Evansville | | Kentucky Proud Park | W 11–3 | Cleaver (2–0) | Bell (2–1) | None | SECN+ | 2,007 | 18–3 | – |
| March 22 | at Missouri | | Taylor Stadium Columbia, MO | W 9–4$^{11}$ | Hummel (2–0) | Rustad (3–3) | None | SECN+ | 1,011 | 19–3 | 4–0 |
| March 23 | at Missouri | | Taylor Stadium | L 1–2 | Pimental (1–0) | Niman (4–2) | Mayer (1) | SECN+ | 1,250 | 19–4 | 4–1 |
| March 24 | at Missouri | | Taylor Stadium | W 7–6 | Moore (5–0) | Lohse (0–2) | McCoy (1) | SECN | 977 | 20–4 | 5–1 |
| March 26 | Miami | No. 24 | Kentucky Proud Park | W 11–3 | Cleaver (2–0) | Preisel (0–1) | None | SECN+ | 2,138 | 21–4 | – |
| March 29 | at Ole Miss | No. 24 | Swayze Field Oxford, MS | W 5–3 | Byers (3–0) | Maddox (2–2) | Hummel (2) | SECN+ | 9,650 | 22–4 | 6–1 |
| March 30 | at Ole Miss | No. 24 | Swayze Field | W 17–9 | Niman (5–2) | Doyle (2–1) | None | SECN+ | 10,149 | 23–4 | 7–1 |
| March 31 | at Ole Miss | No. 24 | Swayze Field | W 15–1$^7$ | Moore (6–0) | Dennis (3–2) | None | SECN+ | 9,040 | 24–4 | 8–1 |
April (9–5) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SEC record |
| April 3 | Louisville | No. 17 | Kentucky Proud Park | Postponed (weather) | Postponed (weather) | Postponed (weather) | Postponed (weather) | Postponed (weather) | Postponed (weather) | Postponed (weather) | Postponed (weather) |
| April 5 | No. 13 Alabama | No. 17 | Kentucky Proud Park | W 6–2 | Pooser (3–0) | Hess (3–2) | None | SECN+ | 2,598 | 25–4 | 9–1 |
| April 6 | No. 13 Alabama | No. 17 | Kentucky Proud Park | W 7–0 | Niman (6–2) | Farone (3–1) | None | SECN+ | 3,886 | 26–4 | 10–1 |
| April 7 | No. 13 Alabama | No. 17 | Kentucky Proud Park | W 10–1 | Moore (7–0) | Adams (2–2) | None | SECN | 3,579 | 27–4 | 11–1 |
| April 9 | at Samford | No. 8 | Joe Lee Griffin Stadium Birmingham, AL | L 7–9 | Clevenger (1–0) | Lafferty (1–1) | None | ESPN+ | 313 | 27–5 | – |
| April 11 | at Auburn | No. 8 | Plainsman Park Auburn, AL | W 6—5 | Smith (2–2) | Myers (2–3) | Hummel (3) | ESPNU | 4,057 | 28–5 | 12–1 |
| April 12 | at Auburn | No. 8 | Plainsman Park | W 9–1 | Niman (7–2) | Allsup (1–3) | None | SECN+ | 4,830 | 29–5 | 13–1 |
| April 13 | at Auburn | No. 8 | Plainsman Park | W 13–8 | Hogan (1–0) | Tilly (3–1) | Hummel (4) | SECN+ | 5,015 | 30–5 | 14–1 |
| April 16 | at Louisville | No. 3 | Jim Patterson Stadium Louisville, KY | W 17–13 | Robinson (1–0) | Hartman (0–1) | None | ACCN | 4,848 | 31–5 | – |
| April 19 | No. 4 Tennessee | No. 3 | Kentucky Proud Park | W 5–3 | Smith (3–2) | Causey (6–3) | Hummel (5) | SECN+ | 6,922 | 32–5 | 15–1 |
| April 20 | No. 4 Tennessee | No. 3 | Kentucky Proud Park | L 4–9 | Combs (1–1) | Niman (7–3) | None | SECN+ | 7,304 | 32–6 | 15–2 |
| April 21 | No. 4 Tennessee | No. 3 | Kentucky Proud Park | L 11–13 | Connell (4–0) | Smith (3–3) | Phillips (2) | SECN+ | 6,797 | 32–7 | 15–3 |
| April 26 | at No. 24 South Carolina | No. 4 | Founders Park Columbia, SC | L 5–6$^{10}$ | Veach (3–1) | Byers (3–1) | None | SECN+ | 7,467 | 32–8 | 15–4 |
| April 27 | at No. 24 South Carolina | No. 4 | Founders Park | W 15–13 | Robinson (2–0) | Jones (3–2) | Hagenow (1) | SECN | 7,512 | 33–8 | 16–4 |
| April 28 | at No. 24 South Carolina | No. 4 | Founders Park | L 0–10$^7$ | Eskew (3–3) | Moore (7–1) | None | SECN | 7,484 | 33–9 | 16–5 |
May (6–3) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SEC record |
| May 3 | No. 2 Arkansas | No. 8 | Kentucky Proud Park | L 3–10 | Smith (9–0) | Pooser (3–1) | None | SECN+ | 4,742 | 33–10 | 16–6 |
| May 4 | No. 2 Arkansas | No. 8 | Kentucky Proud Park | W 11–3 | Niman (8–3) | Tygart (4–2) | None | SECN+ | 4,015 | 34–10 | 17–6 |
| May 5 | No. 2 Arkansas | No. 8 | Kentucky Proud Park | W 7–4 | Moore (8–1) | Molina (3–2) | Hummel (6) | SECN+ | 6,024 | 35–10 | 18–6 |
| May 7 | at Xavier | | J. Page Hayden Field Cincinnati, OH | Cancelled (weather) | Cancelled (weather) | Cancelled (weather) | Cancelled (weather) | Cancelled (weather) | Cancelled (weather) | Cancelled (weather) | Cancelled (weather) |
| May 10 | at Florida | No. 4 | Condron Ballpark Gainesville, FL | W 12–11$^{10}$ | Hummel (3–0) | Fisher (3–3) | Hagenow (2) | SECN+ | 5,294 | 36–10 | 19–6 |
| May 11 | at Florida | No. 4 | Condron Ballpark | L 1–10 | Peterson (2–4) | Niman (8–4) | Slater (1) | SECN | 5,571 | 36–11 | 19–7 |
| May 12 | at Florida | No. 4 | Condron Ballpark | W 7–5$^{10}$ | Hagenow (1–0) | Neely (1–4) | Cleaver (1) | SECN | 6,083 | 37–11 | 20–7 |
| May 14 | Wright State | No. 2 | Kentucky Proud Park | Cancelled (weather) | Cancelled (weather) | Cancelled (weather) | Cancelled (weather) | Cancelled (weather) | Cancelled (weather) | Cancelled (weather) | Cancelled (weather) |
| May 16 | Vanderbilt | No. 2 | Kentucky Proud Park | W 10–5 | Pooser (4–1) | Cunningham (6–4) | None | SECN+ | 4,384 | 38–11 | 21–7 |
| May 17 | Vanderbilt | No. 2 | Kentucky Proud Park | W17–7$^7$ | Hagenow (2–0) | Holton (6–4) | None | SECN+ | 4,071 | 39–11 | 22–7 |
| May 18 | Vanderbilt | No. 2 | Kentucky Proud Park | L4–12 | Futrell (4–1) | Moore (8–2) | None | SECN+ | 5,641 | 39–12 | 22–8 |
Post-season :
SEC Tournament :
| Date | Opponent | Seed | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Overall record | SECT Record |
| May 22 | (11) LSU | 3 | Hoover Metropolitan Stadium Hoover, AL | L 0–11$^8$ | Holman (9–3) | Smith (3–4) | None | SECN | 39–13 | 0–1 |
| May 23 | (2) Arkansas | 3 | Hoover Metropolitan Stadium | W 9–6 | Pooser (5–1) | Smith (9–1) | None | SECN | 40–13 | 1–1 |
| May 24 | (10) South Carolina | 3 | Hoover Metropolitan Stadium | L 5–6 | Marlatt (3–0) | Moore (8–3) | Becker (1) | SECN | 40–14 | 1–2 |
NCAA tournament: Lexington Regional :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall Record | Regional Record |
| May 31 | Western Michigan First round | 2 | Kentucky Proud Park | W 10-8 | O'Brien (2–0) | Miller (6–6) | Hogan (1) | 5,861 | 41–14 | 1–0 |
| June 1 | Illinois Second round | 2 | Kentucky Proud Park | W 6-1 | Pooser (6–1) | Hutchings (4–3) | Hagenow (3) | 6,066 | 42–14 | 2–0 |
| June 2 | Indiana State Regional championship | 2 | Kentucky Proud Park | W 5-0 | Moore (9–3) | Gilley (3–1) | None | 5,877 | 43–14 | 3–0 |
NCAA tournament: Lexington Super Regional :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall Record | Super Regional Record |
| June 8 Game 1 | Oregon State | 2 | Kentucky Proud Park | W 10-0 | Pooser (6–1) | May (7–1) | None | 7,441 | 44–14 | 1–0 |
| June 9 Game 2 | Oregon State | 2 | Kentucky Proud Park | W 3-2 | O'Brien (3–0) | Hummel (7) | Kmatz (7–3) | 7,558 | 45–14 | 2–0 |
NCAA tournament: College World Series :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall Record | CWS Record |
| June 15 | NC State | 2 | Charles Schwab Field | W 5–4$^{10}$ | Hummel (4–0) | Smith (3–2) | None | 24,488 | 46–14 | 1–0 |
| June 17 | Texas A&M | 2 | Charles Schwab Field | L 1–5 | Prager (9–1) | Moore (9–4) | None | 25,327 | 46–15 | 1–1 |
| June 19 | Florida | 2 | Charles Schwab Field | L 5–15 | Coppola (1–4) | Niman (8–5) | None | 23,687 | 46–16 | 1–2 |
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Canceled Bold = Kentucky team member Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.
Schedule source: :

## Record vs. conference opponents

Last two do not qualify for conf. tourn. Blank are not scheduled. Blue are home games, otherwise away.
2024 SEC baseball recordsvte
Source: 2024 SEC baseball game results, 2024 SEC baseball schedule :
| Team | W–L | ALA | ARK | AUB | FLA | UGA | KEN | LSU | MSU | MIZZ | MISS | SCAR | TENN | TAMU | VAN | Team | Div | SR | SW |
| ALA | 13–17 | | 2–1 | 1–2 | . | 0–3 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–2 | . | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | . | ALA | W4 | 5–5 | 0–2 |
| ARK | 20–10 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | . | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | . | 1–2 | . | ARK | W1 | 7–3 | 3–0 |
| AUB | 8–22 | 2–1 | 1–2 | | . | . | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–2 | . | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–3 | AUB | W7 | 2–8 | 0–4 |
| FLA | 13–17 | . | 1–2 | . | | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | . | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | FLA | E5 | 4–6 | 0–1 |
| UGA | 17–13 | 3–0 | . | . | 1–2 | | 0–3 | . | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | UGA | E3 | 5–5 | 3–1 |
| KEN | 22–8 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | | . | . | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | . | 2–1 | KEN | E2 | 8–2 | 4–0 |
| LSU | 13–17 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–2 | . | . | | 1–2 | 2–1 | 3–0 | . | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–2 | LSU | W5 | 4–6 | 1–2 |
| MSU | 17–13 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | . | 2–1 | | 2–1 | 1–2 | . | . | 1–2 | 2–1 | MSU | W3 | 6–4 | 1–0 |
| MIZZ | 9–21 | . | 0–3 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | . | 1–2 | 0–3 | . | 0–3 | MIZZ | E7 | 1–9 | 1–3 |
| MISS | 11–19 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | . | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 2–1 | . | | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | . | MISS | W6 | 4–6 | 0–3 |
| SCAR | 13–17 | 1–2 | 1–2 | . | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–1 | . | . | 2–1 | 1–2 | | 0–3 | 1–2 | 3–0 | SCAR | E6 | 4–6 | 1–2 |
| TENN | 22–8 | 1–2 | . | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | . | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | | . | 2–1 | TENN | E1 | 9–1 | 3–0 |
| TAMU | 19–11 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | . | 1–2 | 2–1 | . | 1–2 | 2–1 | . | | 3–0 | TAMU | W2 | 7–3 | 2–0 |
| VAN | 13–17 | . | . | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | . | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–3 | | VAN | E4 | 4–6 | 2–3 |
| Team | W–L | ALA | ARK | AUB | FLA | UGA | KEN | LSU | MSU | MIZZ | MISS | SCAR | TENN | TAMU | VAN | Team | Div | SR | SW |
Updated for entire regular season. Tie Brkrs: TENN>KEN head to head. MSU>UGA head to head. ALA>VAN & FLA>SCAR & LSU TENN common. VAN>FLA head to head. SCAR>LSU ARK common. ARK SEC Tournament seed>KEN, ARK West champion.

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Final |
| Coaches' | — | —* | — | — | — | 25 | 21 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2* | 3 |
| Baseball America | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | 18 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2* | 3 |
| NCBWA† | — | 24 | — | 25 | — | 21 | 20 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| D1Baseball | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2* | 3 |
| Perfect Game | — | — | — | 25 | — | 24 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
† NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season. * A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.